C2C CLEANERS STRIKE

6 RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2023 :: RMTnews L ow-paid train cleaners employed by contractor Bidvest Noonan to clean C2C trains in Essex took solid strike action in November. With high inflation and the cost of living going through the roof the union put in a reasonable pay claim to improve wages. Bidvest Noonan’s response was to reject the claim and without further discussion imposed a pay rise of mere pennies above the legal minimum wage. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that these workers were loyal staff who were hailed as heroes during the Covid pandemic when their role was seen as essential to keep the trains running. “Their reward has been to be kept on poverty pay and their demands are simple. “They want to be treated the same as workers who are directly employed by C2C. They are striking for decent pay but also want the same benefits fellow employees receive who work on the same trains as they do: sick pay beyond the statutory minimum; travel provision and a defined benefit pension scheme,” he said. HOW YOU CAN HELP You can support our campaign for pay justice for C2C cleaners by emailing the company at contact@c2crail.co.uk calling on them to pressure its contractor, Bidvest Noonan, to bring pay and conditions in line with the rest of C2C workers. C2C CLEANERS STRIKE Fenchurch Street East Ham